Queens battled back from behind twice to deny rock-bottom Alloa Athletic in a gritty 2-2 draw at The Indodrill Stadium.

In a sluggish first-half with little goal action, the already relegated hosts took the lead through a Iain Flannigan penalty but The Doonhamers fought back in the second period through a Derek Lyle penalty but substitute Connor McManus put The Wasps ahead for the second time but Queens hit back late on as Dale Hilson nodded home from close range to earn Queens a share of the spoils.

James Fowler rang the changes from Tuesday night`s defeat at Dumbarton. Deputy goal keeper Jim Atkinson made his fifth start of the season while Kyle Hutton, Derek Lyle and Jordan Marshall returned to the starting line-up, the latter coming back from a lengthy spell on the side-lines. Alex Harris, Jake Pickard, Robbie Thomson and club captain Chris Higgins dropped to the bench. Andy Dowie pulled on the captain`s armband in the absence of Higgins.

The opening 20 minutes lacked any real goal-scoring action with both teams cancelling each other out and lacking that final touch of quality. The only chance came direct from a deep Mark Millar corner which Alloa goal keeper David Crawford had to tip over the crossbar.

Most of the action was played in the middle of the park but neither side could muster up any real threats at goal. With 27 minutes on the clock Queens broke forward after a Mitchel Megginson mistake, Dale Hilson gathered the ball from right-back position and used his pace to run past three players before offloading the ball to Lyle and the striker delivered a great cross into the box but Crawford was on his toes and collected the ball in the six-yard box before Millar could pounce.

On the half-hour mark, the hosts began to pose a threat to the Queens defence. Iain Flannigan found space on the right-hand side and crossed over a fantastic ball over three Queens men, straight into the path of Kyle McAusland but the ball took an awkward bounce and all the right-back could do was fire a cross back into the danger area but it was superbly blocked by Dowie.

Ross Jack`s side began to take control of the match and were rewarded seven minutes later. Megginson broke forward into the box and looked to pull the trigger but before the winger could get his shot away Jordan Marshall mistimed his challenge, leaving referee Gavin Duncan no choice but to point to the spot.

It was the second penalty The Doonhamers had conceded in a week and the result was the same from Tuesday night as Iain Flannigan stepped up to take the penalty kick and struck the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, sending Jim Atkinson the wrong way to give the hosts the lead. 

Atkinson cant keep the penalty out

 

The Wasps had a chance to double their lead five minutes before the break.  Robert Crawford blasted his strike from the edge of the box, inches over the bar but claimed Atkinson got a touch to put it over but referee Duncan waved away his protests. Crawford`s effort was the last meaningful action of a poor first-half of football from both outfits.

Half Time- Alloa 1-0 Queens 

The Doonhamers came out after the interval and looked a different team, dominating possession and creating chances from the off. After good link-up play with Kyle Hutton, Lewis Kidd found space in the Alloa penalty box but his shot was blocked by Douglas Hill. 

The creativity of Dale Hilson was becoming apparent as the second-half grew and his pace was causing The Wasps defenders endless problems and he made space on the left-hand side and his cross looked to be inch perfect to Lyle but was blocked by Colin Hamilton in the nick of time. 

Ten minutes into the second period and the visitors could have been on level terms. Millar`s corner found the head of the leaping Lyle but the striker couldn`t get his effort on target. 

After Hilson was fouled by not one but two Alloa players, up stepped Millar to try and grab the equaliser but the midfielder`s free-kick drifted wide of Crawford`s goal. Millar had another chance four minutes but he blasted his 25-yard shot over the bar.

James Fowler`s side were on top of the match and decided to bring on Gary Oliver for Callum Tapping in the 64th minute, adding more attacking options onto the field and it his side were rewarded three minutes later. 

Iain Russell stormed into the Alloa box and was upended by substitute Connor McManus and Gavin Duncan pointed to the spot for the second time. Derek Lyle used his experience and made no mistake, sending Crawford the wrong way and got The Doonhamers on level terms.

Russell is upended in the box

Lyle strikes home the penalty

 

The equalising goal seemed to spur Alloa into life and Queens had to thank Atkinson for keeping the score even. On-loan midfielder Michael Duffy did well to spin his marker and unleash a stinging drive from 25 yards but Atkinson tipped the ball out for a corner.

Before the set-piece was hit, Queens made their second change of the afternoon as Chris Higgins came on for Jordan Marshall. 

The corner was whipped in and Alloa captain Dougie Hill rose up and saw his header go past Atkinson but come crashing back off the woodwork.

The hosts wouldn`t be denied for long as four minutes later they regained their goal advantage. Michael Duffy held the ball well and sprayed it to Hetherington on the left-hand side and he picked out the run of McManus and he smashed the ball home to regain the hosts lead.

Queens looked to respond from the set-back and used their last sub, Alex Harris replacing goal scorer Lyle for the final quarter of the match. 

Hilson and Russell were continuing to cause chaos on the left-hand side and on 79 minutes Hilson squared the ball to Higgins inside the box but the defenders cross-come-shot had too much power and spun out for goal-kick.

With only five minutes remaining, The Doonhamers grabbed the all-important equaliser. Mark Millar delivered another superb corner-kick and found the unmarked Dale Hilson and the striker nodded home from four-yards out for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Hilson heads home the second equaliser

 

Fowler`s men had chances to go ahead for the first time in the tie. Iain Russell`s volley was collected by Crawford and Millar`s last minute effort from 25-yards was parried by the keeper and knocked out for a corner-kick.

That was to be the last chance of the match and The Doonhamers had to settle for a point. 

Next week`s penultimate match of the season is on Saturday against Livingston at Palmerston Park.